While I lived in MT I use to hunt the Gravelly Mountain range south of Dillon MT, south of Black Butte. The rangers have been keeping the wolves out of that area for the last 15-20 years because it's a calving grounds for the elk. Don't be surprised if you don't talk to them once or twice while you are in that area. The best route in is past Ted Turners buffalo ranch and getting on Eureka Basin Rd and taking it to the top. There is a lot of places to pitch a tent up all the way on top near the Gravelly Range RD and the Eureka Basin Rd "T". There are 2 Forest Service cabins up there that can be rented but usually are within minutes of becoming available. I've seen 5th wheelers up there but I wouldn't pull one up because if it rains or snows the road turns to snot and I've seen trucks that have used the mountain as a brake instead of going over the side. Take your chains along if you go up there, that glacial silt on the roads is slick when wet. The more aggressive a tire you have the better off you will be "preferable 10 ply". I hope I made my point on that about how bad the roads roads can get! Just about anywhere up along the Gravelly Range RD would be good for hunting.
There is a ATV trail on top that runs off the Gravelly Range RD that goes back in several miles past Fossil Creek (which is a real bi@ch to hike) but there are a lot of places to hunt back there. Ther are 3 or 4 bear dens back in there and a "few" griz and black bears. I've also hiked in along Elk River and saw a lot of elk back in there. Don't go down Cottonwood Creek Rd more than a mile unless you want to go all the way down. That road turns to real crap when wet. I've hike it down from the top for a mile and a half or so and used ATV to get back out. I've seen elk, griz. and black bears there.
Fossil Creek from the south side by ATV is nice but will be crawling with shooters, anywhere along Fossil Creek the elk will be running everywhere opening morning, head in early or hike in from Gravelly Range RD. Same goes for Elk river just few shooters because of limited access. Cottonwood Creek and the south side of Black Butte will have a lot of shooters back in by the sheep herders camp. Coal Creek drainage area is a great place to shoot but you will have to hike in a mile or more, never hunted this only talked to others. Some will camp in by the gravel pit off of Gravelly Range RD and hike west into the Ruby River and Poison Creek Drainage, never hunted this only talked to others.
If there is a heavy snow and the elk move off the top they will head down the Elk River, Lobo River and the Tepee Creek drainage. If they go south they will use the Fossil Creek drainage, they may go over Landon Ridge and into the Snowshoe River drainage on their way south to the Red Lake area or turn east and head down the Fossil Creek drainage. If they go west they will go down the Cottonwood Creek, Ruby River, Poison Creek and the Coal Creek drainage.
Man! Can't believe someone dinged me with a negative reputation point for this.:;:huh
